A Staffordshire engineering firm has been fined �5,000 over a major chemical spillage which left more than 60 people needing medical treatment.

Tamworth Heat Treatment was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive over a leak of titanium tetrachloride on 6 February 2001.

The accident was declared a major incident by the Staffordshire ambulance service, and all hospitals in the county were put on alert.

The company, which admitted breaking health and safety legislation, was also ordered to pay �4,000 court costs at Tamworth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The accident was declared a 'major incident'

The accident happened during servicing work on a furnace at the plant, on an industrial estate in the Stoneydelph area of the town.

The chemical, used in the heat treatment of metals, was spilled by a specialist engineer from another company.

A small quantity of the chemical, which turns to hazardous hydrogen chloride when in contact with the air, was inhaled by workers at the neighbouring Darwell Fabrications unit.

Sixty-six needed medical attention, and some had to take decontamination showers.

Nobody was seriously hurt.

The Health and Safety Executive said the company had failed to give the specialist engineer enough health and safety guidance, and was ultimately responsible for the accident.

After the court case on Thursday, Tamworth Heat Treatment issued a statement saying it valued its neighbours and employees.

The company said it felt let down by the specialist engineer involved.